The
Ford Mustang defined the pony car segment in 1964 and was a runaway sales success. It helped create a niche that exploded in popularity with the
Camaro,
Firebird, Barracuda,
Cougar, Javelin, and Challenger. They're all gone now, leaving the Mustang with no direct competition, at least for now.
Fortunately, today's Mustang, introduced three years ago, is a superb example of the genre. The Mustang GT comes with a 300-hp V8 and is an absolute hoot to drive, making all the right sounds, hanging onto corners tenaciously, and delivering thrilling acceleration performance. The American pony car has never been better than the current Mustang GT.
The Mustang is available as a coupe or convertible. The Mustang V6 Deluxe is a nice cruiser and its 4.0-liter V6 engine is a solid performer, all for around $20,000. But the Mustang GT is what the Mustang is all about and the basis of the legend.